Ep 374: Expert Edition: The Balanced Runner - Improve your running with Paul Mackinnon
Release Date: 11/18/2025
Ep 385: Lateral Ankle Sprains Masterclass
The Physical Performance Show
In episode 385 of The Physical Performance Show, host Brad Beer sits down with fellow physiotherapist Lewis Craig for a lateral ankle sprain masterclass. Drawing on material the pair recently presented at a Gold Coast orthopedic evening, Brad and Lewis cover the burden and prevalence of lateral ankle sprains, the three-part clinical assessment process, key differential diagnoses, rehabilitation phases, and preventative strategies including bracing and taping. The episode explores why lateral ankle sprains — despite their reputation as a minor injury — carry a significant risk of chronic...
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Ep 384: Tibial Bone Injury Q&A - All Your Questions Answered
The Physical Performance Show
In episode 384 of The Physical Performance Show, Brad Beer and fellow physiotherapist Tim Studley tackle a wide-ranging Q&A on tibial bone stress injuries. Following the recent bone stress injury mini-series and two-part tibial bone stress injury masterclass, Brad and Tim answer listener questions covering chronic tibial stress responses, recurring shin pain, rehabilitation, plyometrics, strength training, anti-inflammatory medications, and how to reduce the risk of future bone stress injuries. The episode explores some of the practical clinical questions that arise when athletes are...
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Ep 383: Prof Franco Impellizzeri on Load Management, Data & the Truth About ACWR
The Physical Performance Show
Physical Performance Show – Episode 383 Show Notes In episode 383 of The Physical Performance Show, host Brad Beer sits down with Professor Franco Impellizzeri, one of the most influential and outspoken voices in athlete load management research, for a wide-ranging conversation on why "load management" is an old concept dressed up in new data, why the acute to chronic workload ratio (ACWR) never held up to scrutiny, and why context — not more metrics — is what separates good decision-making from noise. Show Sponsor: Pillar Performance continues to lead the way in sports nutrition through...
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Ep 382: Tibial Bone Stress Masterclass Part 2 (Fixing Shin Pain & Tibia Injuries)
The Physical Performance Show
Physical Performance Show – Episode 382 Show Notes In this episode of The Physical Performance Show, host Brad Beer sits down with Pogo Physio's Tim Studley for Part 2 of their two-part mini-series on shin pain and tibial bone stress injuries. Having covered diagnosis and differentiation between MTSS and tibial bone stress injuries in Part 1, this episode shifts focus to management — mechanics, return-to-run programming, strength and conditioning, footwear, and terrain considerations for runners recovering from (or trying to prevent) tibial bone stress injury. Show Sponsor: Pillar...
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Ep 381: Tibial Bone Stress Masterclass Part 1 (Shin Pain, Shin Splints or Stress Fracture?)
The Physical Performance Show
In episode 381 of The Physical Performance Show, host Brad Beer — sports and exercise physiotherapist — sits down with Pogo physiotherapist Tim Studley for the first instalment of a two-part mini-series on shin pain and tibial bone stress injuries, following on from their earlier three-part bone stress injury series. This episode is essential listening for runners, coaches, and clinicians alike, unpacking how to tell the difference between medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS/shin splints) and a true tibial bone stress injury — two conditions that can feel identical but require...
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Ep 380: Bone Stress Injuries: Recovery, Rehabilitation & Return to Running (Part 3)
The Physical Performance Show
In episode 380 of The Physical Performance Show, host Brad Beer and Pogo Physio physiotherapist Tim Studley conclude their three-part expert series on bone stress injuries by focusing on what happens after diagnosis. From imaging and prognosis to rehabilitation, return to running, and long-term prevention, this episode provides a practical roadmap for athletes, coaches, and clinicians managing these complex injuries. Brad explains why identifying the underlying causes of a bone stress injury is just as important as healing the bone itself. The discussion covers deloading, progressive...
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Ep 379: Bone Stress Injuries: Risk Factors, Diagnosis & Prevention (Part 2)
The Physical Performance Show
In episode 379 of The Physical Performance Show, host Brad Beer and Pogo Physio physiotherapist Tim Studley continue their three-part expert series on bone stress injuries by shifting the focus from training errors to the biological factors that determine whether an athlete's skeleton can tolerate training demands. This episode explores the critical role of energy availability, bone health, recovery, and risk stratification in both preventing and diagnosing bone stress injuries. Brad shares practical screening strategies developed over two decades of clinical practice, explaining why...
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Ep 378: Bone Stress Injuries: Causes, Symptoms & Early Warning Signs (Part 1)
The Physical Performance Show
In episode 378 of The Physical Performance Show, host Brad Beer is joined by Pogo physiotherapist Tim Studley for the first instalment of a three-part expert series exploring bone stress injuries. Drawing on decades of clinical experience and the latest research, Brad unpacks the mechanisms behind one of the most common and misunderstood injuries affecting endurance athletes. This episode explains how bone stress injuries develop, why they occur, and why they're often missed until they become more serious. Brad and Tim discuss the relationship between training load, bone...
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Ep 377: The Complete Guide to Hamstring Strain Rehabilitation with Nick Kane
The Physical Performance Show
In episode 377 of The Physical Performance Show, Sports Physiotherapist Nick Kane joins host Brad Beer to unpack the rehabilitation of hamstring strain injuries. Nick is the founder and director of SportsMap, one of Australia's leading professional development platforms for sports medicine clinicians. Drawing on more than a decade working in elite sport, including ten years with the Essendon Football Club in the AFL and five years as lead physiotherapist, Nick shares practical, evidence-informed insights into managing one of sport's most common and frustrating injuries. This episode explores...
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The Physical Performance Show is back!
The Physical Performance Show
Brad shares what's happened over the last two years, why there has been infrequency in episode production adn what teh plan is from ehre. Listen into this brief update as he explains what shape the podcast will take and what content you can expect. We want to say a special thank you to you, our loyal listeners. Without youthere wouldn't be this podcast, we deeply apprecaite you.
info_outlineRunning technique coach Paul Mackinnon (The Balanced Runner) unpacks why most runners “force outcomes” (cadence, foot strike, knee drive) instead of changing the inputs that actually reshape movement. Paul explains his top-down approach—starting at the arms and torso to influence what happens below—so athletes can reduce ground contact time, improve rhythm, and shift along the continuum from rehab to performance.
Across an engaging conversation in episode 374 of The Physical Performance Show, with hosts Brad Beer and Huw Darnell, Paul challenges the idea that “technique doesn’t matter,” arguing that how you move determines how you load. He distinguishes economy from efficiency, shows why arm swing and thoracic control set the timing for the legs, and shares practical cues to build self-awareness, symmetry, and lift—without derailing training volume. Clinicians and athletes alike will gain a clearer roadmap for translating S&C work to the road, coaching more effectively, and making durable technique change.
To Follow Paul Mackinnon (The Balanced Runner):
Website: TBrunner.com
Instagram: @thebalancedrunner
Show Sponsor:
For 20% off all The Rehab Mechanics products. Go to www.therehabmechanics.com.au
Enter discount code TPPS20 at checkout.
TIMELINE:
00:00 Forcing outcomes: the #1 running mistake
03:19 Inputs over outcomes; changing the whole system without losing training
04:32 Knee drive, ground time, and why top-down coaching works
07:28 Midline crossover: finding the true driver of the pattern
09:35 Physics → biomechanics → the individual: three coaching silos
11:11 Do mechanics matter? Why the debate misses the point
14:11 Lessons from swimming: skill, workload, and injury risk
16:27 Breaking-2 insight: efficiency beating raw physiology
18:09 Economy vs efficiency; cost per step explained
21:07 Two paths to change: full-pattern reset vs detailed top-down
23:05 New-way/old-way contrasts to build self-awareness
26:06 Feel, timing, rhythm: enlarging the athlete’s “sweet spot”
32:29 What good running looks like: rhythm, symmetry, flight
36:37 Coaching language, listening, and athlete buy-in
43:22 Mental health: running as a lifeline
44:43 Humerus–femur coupling: why arms and thighs must sync
49:17 Simple buy-in: reduce ground time & ground reaction force
50:18 Paul’s top three: Awareness • Symmetry • Lift
52:50 Why S&C often doesn’t transfer—and how to fix it
59:35 One piece of advice: self-awareness—know where you are now
1:00:27 Listener Challenge: film your running, build your baseline
LISTEN IN AS WE DELVE INTO THE FOLLOWING:
- The #1 mistake runners make: forcing outcomes vs changing inputs
- Why technique, capacity, and rehab are independent—but interlinked—puzzle pieces
- The injury ↔ performance continuum and coaching before athletes break
- Top-down mechanics: how arms/torso shape leg action and knee drive
- Midline “tight-rope” running: finding the driver (ribcage, arms, rotation)
- Physics → biomechanics → individual: the three silos that govern change
- “You can’t outrun physics”: mechanics as applied physics, not opinion
- Efficiency vs economy: cost per step, flight time, ground contact time
- Why research lags coaching—and what to change (and not change) first
- Translating S&C and plyos to running: when good gym work fails to show up
- Coaching language, storytelling, and athlete-led awareness (new vs old way)
- Rhythm vs being rhythmic: symmetry, timing, and longer flight
- Mental health, identity, and why running is a lifeline for many athletes
- Three practical cues: Awareness • Symmetry • Get off the ground
- The week’s challenge: Film your running and build an honest baseline
QUOTES:
“You can’t outrun physics.”
“How you move determines how you load.”
“Stop forcing outcomes—change the inputs.”
“Awareness, symmetry, get off the ground. Every step costs—know what you’re paying for.”
PEOPLE MENTIONED:
Ellie Salthouse – Triathlete
Enda King – Hip & groin specialist (Aspetar)
Rich Willy – Running biomechanics researcher
Alec McKenzie, Stephen Doohig – Swimming biomechanics researchers
Jenny Alcorn – Triathlon coach (historical reference)
THE TEAM:
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Our goal is to get you back to your Physical Best. Find out more about Telehealth Consultations and book online.
Your Hosts:
🏃 Brad Beer - Instagram & X @Bradbeer and YouTube on @PogophysioAu
💪 Huw Darnell - Exercise Physiologist & Performance Coach : YouTube: @huwdarnell & Instagram @huwdarnell
The Physical Performance Show can be found at:
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X: @tppshow1
Instagram: @physicalperforamceshow
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